CN102883776A

CN102883776A - Fungal infection therapy with low level laser

Info

Publication number: CN102883776A
Application number: CN2011800244585A
Authority: CN
Inventors: K.B.图塞克; S.C.尚克斯
Original assignee: Erchonia Corp
Current assignee: Erchonia Corp
Priority date: 2010-03-17
Filing date: 2011-03-16
Publication date: 2013-01-16
Also published as: WO2011116134A2; US8814924B2; AU2011227291A1; CA2792635A1; MX2012010683A; EP2547399A4; WO2011116134A3; TW201138888A; US20110213446A1; RU2012138118A; BR112012023373A2; US20120109265A1; ZA201206571B; KR20130059331A; JP2013521948A; EP2547399A2

Abstract

A portable, small-footprint laser device contains one or more housings in which a laser energy source and an optical arrangement are disposed. The housing produces a laser beam spot that may be rotated and scanned to apply laser energy to a target area. The laser device receives treatment parameters and uses them to program a treatment regimen in which activation and movement of the housings is automated. The laser device may be used to apply a treatment regimen to a patient's hands or feet that are infected by Onychomycosis. In the treatment regimen, certain wavelengths of laser energy are applied at a predetermined duration. The treatment may be repeated, and a topical anti-fungal medication may be applied to aid in the efficacy of the treatment.

Description

Utilize the fungal infection therapy of Low level laser

Technical field

The present invention relates to treatment/therapy of utilizing laser aid to carry out by and large.More particularly, the present invention relates to for utilizing low laser energy to treat the method and apparatus of fungal infection.

Background technology

Tinea unguium (" OM ") is the fungal infection of toenail or fingernail.Infection can comprise any member of fingernail, comprises nail matrix, deck or onychostroma.OM can become and be difficult to see and can produce pain, not accommodate disfigurement, these all cause health/physics and restriction occupation.The disease such such as OM can cause for individual's quality of the life disadvantageous effect, has influence on his social mentality and emotional health.The main subtype of OM is position, distal side first mo(u)ld bottom half OM (" DLSO "), white shallow phenotype OM (" WSO "), near-end first mo(u)ld bottom half OM (" PSO "), type OM (" EO ") and beads bacterial type OM in the first.The patient can have the combination of these subtypes.Pantatrophia type OM refers to the serious symptoms of any subtype.The morbidity of fungal infection/outbreak is to be caused by three kinds of main fungus classifications: dermatophytosis, yeast and non-dermatophytes mycete.All over the world, the modal cause of disease of OM is owing to infected dermatophytosis, comprises Epidermophyton, Microsporon and trichophyton.Exist two kinds of main pathogens that cause most of OM case: trichophyton and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

The clinician has multiple treatment option, comprises general or Desenex's thing and naturopathy.But it is lower that success rate keeps, and it is higher that relapse rate keeps, and for some patient, related cost and risk may be too high.For example, the most effective, received treatment is the prescription oral medicine, and it has significant side effect, such as erythra and hepatic injury.Need to be for effective alternative of pharmacology solution, it is safe for the patient and the recurrence of protecting from infection.

Using low-level laser therapy (" LLLT ") in the treatment for diseases widely.LLLT has improved wound healing, has reduced edema and has alleviated the pain of various cause of disease/causes of disease, comprises to wound and operative site/site and successfully uses to reduce inflammation and pain.LLLT also is used for the treatment of and repairs injured muscle and tendon.LLLT has used low-level laser energy, and wherein treatment has a doses rate, this close rate do not cause the temperature that directly can detect of the tissue that is treated to raise and organizational structure in macroscopic variation.

Therefore, be treated and organizing on every side be not heated or damage, and the patient can not feel during treating.Some LLLT biological key element of photodestruction institute targeting effectively under the appropriate therapeutic condition.For example, LLLT can be used for fat and reduces to form the transhipment hole in the adipose cell wall, and fat is discharged in the clearance space by the transhipment hole.

In laser therapy, there is multiple variable, comprise the wavelength of laser beam, by the area of laser beam bump, the shape, the power of lasing light emitter, intensity or the impact of laser energy, laser pulse width and treatment persistent period of bundle hot spot when impinging light beam is on this area.These variablees depend on the tissue signature of particular patient usually to a great extent, and relation and the combination of these variablees are depended in the success of every kind of therapy.For example, can come convenient/promotion fat to reduce by a kind of scheme of utilizing given power, wavelength and treatment persistent period, and can treat pain by a kind of different wave length and scheme for the treatment of persistent period utilized, and can treat inflammation by third party's case.For every type therapy, can use concrete device.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide laser therapy device and treat the method for other fungal infection of OM and fingernail or toenail with this device.Another object of the present invention is to encourage the photodestruction of fungus antibacterial and can not adversely have influence on surrounding health tissue.Another object of the present invention is to destroy the fungus antibacterial with the laser of multiple different pulse widths.Specific purpose of the present invention is to provide with method compact, that independent laser aid provides the Low level laser therapy, and this Low level laser therapy can be used for treating OM and other fungal infection.Another object of the present invention is to provides the method that the Low level laser therapy is provided with hand-held treatment laser aid, and this Low level laser therapy can be used for treating OM and other fungal infection.

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention is a kind of method for the treatment of OM with laser aid, and laser aid can be launched the laser of one or more wavelength simultaneously.This device is so that can be with one or more pulse widths, and the laser of one or more harness shapes and one or more spot sizes externally is applied to the infected area of patient body.Laser can be continuous or for pulsed.This device can comprise a plurality of lasing light emitters.In a preferred embodiment, two semiconductor diode laser sources provide two independent laser beams simultaneously, and laser beam produces red laser and another laser beam produces purple laser.More preferably, in the laser aid that lasing light emitter is contained in is portable, compact, support oneself, the patient is positioned over infected hands or foot in this laser aid.

Started laser aid and scan laser energy on the whole infected zone of patient's first-hand or foot.Laser Power Supply can almost touch skin or be maintained at nail surface at a distance of up to 10 approximately inch or farther distances.Laser energy can be applied at first hands of patient or foot and continue from about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes duration.If need, can repeat this at the infected appendage of another (appendage) and apply.After applying for the first time, can repeat whole treatment.After for the second time treatment, the patient can apply Desenex's thing and continue 12 weeks to prevent reinfect.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 shows the electric of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and electromagnetism sketch map.

Fig. 2 be preferred embodiment the linear beam spot shape the sketch map of optical arrangement.

Fig. 3 is the perspective view that scanning head optics of the present invention is arranged.

Fig. 4 is the perspective view along the probe of Fig. 3 of axis a and b decomposition.

Fig. 4 a is the perspective view that maintains the universal bracket shown in Figure 3 of prism rather than rod lens.

Fig. 5 is for applying the perspective view of low-level laser radiation with hand-holding rod/battle.

Fig. 6 is for being used for the portable perspective view that is subjected to the laser aid of floor-supporting of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is for being used for the perspective view of wall-mounted laser aid of the present invention.

Fig. 8 a is for being used for the decomposition diagram of portable, compact self-supporting laser aid of the present invention.

Fig. 8 b is the front perspective view of the scanner of the laser aid shown in Fig. 8 a.

Fig. 9 is the front right perspective view of the laser aid of Fig. 8 a.

Figure 10 is the right side view of Fig. 8 a and Fig. 9, shows door and has opened and inserted patient's foot to treat.

Figure 11 applies the perspective view of low-level laser radiation for the laser aid that uses Fig. 7 or Fig. 8 a to Figure 10.

The specific embodiment

Carry out optimal mode of the present invention and industrial usability

Referring to accompanying drawing, show a plurality of laser aids, it can be used for carrying out the inventive method of this paper, and these methods are the methods that are used for the treatment of the OM infection of skin or fingernail.Fig. 1 schematically shows the preferred electric and electromagnetism of laser aid and arranges that wherein, the first Laser Power Supply 11 and the second Laser Power Supply 12 are connected to power supply 14.Power supply 14 preferably provides direct current, such as the direct current that is provided by battery, but also alternately provides interchange, and such as the interchange that is provided by conventional civil power, then it be converted into direct current.Switch 15,16 is connected respectively to Laser Power Supply 11,12 and controlled the lasing period.These Laser Power Supplies can be powered up/energy supply independently or side by side, but all refer in the whole description in the substantially behavior of same time generation.

Laser Power Supply 11,12 can be any source that is suitable for LLLT, comprises he-Ne laser and the solid-state or tunable semiconductor laser diode of wave-length coverage between 400nm and 800nm with 632 nm wavelength.In a preferred embodiment,

Laser Power Supply

11,12 is semiconductor laser diode, and one of them generation has the light in the red scope of visible spectrum of about 635nm wavelength, and other generation has about 405nm wavelength at the light of purple scope.Other suitable wavelength comprises 440 nm, 510 nm and 530 nm, and these wavelength can use by various combination.Preferred

Laser Power Supply

11,12 each spontaneous emission are less than one watt power.The diode of various other wattage also can be used for realizing for the required laser energy of given scheme.

In the preferred embodiment, laser is continuously bundle.Alternatively, laser can be pulsed.Pulse duration controller 21,22 is connected respectively to Laser Power Supply 11,12 to form a kind of control circuit, and control circuit is being controlled the persistent period of each pulse of the laser of launching, and is known as in this article pulse width.The pulse width of from 0 to 100,000 Hz can be used for realizing on the required effect of fungus and can not adversely affect patient's tissue.Therapeutic purposes are to utilize pulse width to send laser energy to affected area, and pulse width is enough short in effective to antifungal, avoid the sensation damaging adjacent tissue or avoid the laser in patient's nerve to cause simultaneously in treatment.

Each

laser beam

41,42 is launched from corresponding Laser Power Supply 11,12, and passes through respectively

optical arrangement

31,32 and luminous, and

optical arrangement

31,32 produces respectively the bundle hot spot 1,2 with given shape.The bundle hot spot is cross sectional shape and the size of the bundle launched during target area at its bump.For example, the laser beam of circular cross-section forms the circular beam hot spot when laser beam bump area for treatment.If laser beam in visible range, when light beam is launched from Laser Power Supply, if optical arrangement is not handled laser beam, then can be seen in area for treatment the circular beam hot spot of substantially the same diameter.Can handle laser beam, such as by collimation, refraction, coverage/masking-out or so that the other method that laser beam reshapes, in order to produce the bundle hot spot of different size and shapes.In the preferred embodiment,

laser beam

41,42 is shaped to produce the linear light beam hot spot with it the patient.Fig. 2 shows a kind of example optical arrangement 31 that comprises collimating lens 34 and produce the prism 36 of line.The prism 36 of collimating lens 34 and generation line is about Laser Power Supply 11 series connection arrangements.Collimating lens 34 and the prism 36 that produces line receive the laser beam that produces and change the laser beam that produces into laser rays L.As alternative, suitable electric or mechanical arrangement can replace optical arrangement 31.

Referring to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, preferred optical arrangement 31 is in order to form a kind of probe of bundle hot spot in area for treatment.In order to form the bundle hot spot, the laser beam 41 of launching from lasing light emitter 11 is directed to probe, and probe comprises hollow mandrel 20, and laser beam 41 passes hollow mandrel 20 and is transferred.Rotatable carriage 18 keeps a kind of optical element, and laser beam 41 incides on this optical element.Preferably, laser beam 41, axle 20 and carriage 18 are basically coaxial.Preferably, produced linear the first bundle hot spot L by laser beam 41 being directed to optical element, the centrage of linear the first bundle hot spot L is coaxial with axle 20.Rod lens 35 is preferably this optical element, but the prism 36 shown in Fig. 4 a or other optical element or its combination also can be satisfied the demand.In other embodiments, the first bundle hot spot can be another circular or non-circular shape, such as the polygon of filling or the line of polygonal profile, multiple spot or multi-corner star-shape or series of parallel or intersection.Along with carriage 18 rotations, linear pencil hot spot L also rotates, and becomes in itself the rotating diameter of apparent circular the second bundle hot spot.In a preferred embodiment, when carriage 18 rotations were passed through at least 180 °, linear the first bundle hot spot L scanned through complete circle.Preferably,, restraints by carriage 18 hot spot 1,2 thereby rotating lentamente with the identical area for treatment of alternate mode bump.Alternatively, utilize electronics or computerization control, carriage 18 can automatically very rapidly rotate, and causes laser beam 41 to occur forming the second basically circular bundle hot spot with the skin the patient.But this shape is actually the result of the scan light diameter that scans to the another location from a position in the speed that makes human eye almost be not aware of motion.This line is longer, and it is just larger then to restraint hot spot.

Utilize driven unit to rotate this carriage 18.Driven unit is preferably a kind of main driven wheel 26, and main driven wheel 26 matches with secondary driven wheel 27.Secondary driven wheel 27 is driven by main CD-ROM drive motor 25.When main driven wheel 26 rotated, carriage 18 was around this axis rotation.Thereby, pass hollow mandrel 20 and collide a kind of optical element from the laser beam 41 of Laser Power Supply 11, optical element is so that laser beam deflection is linear pencil hot spot L, linear pencil hot spot L and rotation in conjunction with and be rendered as a kind of circular beam hot spot.Preferably, laser beam 41 keeps and hollow mandrel 20 coaxial this optical elements that pass, thereby so that the center of the bundle hot spot that is formed by optical element on the axis of hollow mandrel 20.Driven unit also can be subject to narishige according to the control of the signal that receives from panel 57, panel 57 is shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, it comprises that also various discrete circuit are to be used at least this probe of control, and also can control one or more, such as known in the art in Laser Power Supply, power supply, switch and the pulse duration controller.In another form, panel 57 also comprises and is programmed to the microprocessor that operates with various patterns.

Referring to Fig. 5, laser can use hand-holding rod 39 and be directed to patient's desired zone with it.This rod 39 can be shell, and it comprises the elongated hollow tube that is limiting inner chamber.Laser Power Supply 11 and optical arrangement 31 can be installed in the inner chamber of rod 39, but Laser Power Supply can be positioned at the distant place, and laser is directed to this rod 39 by optical fiber.Rod 39 can be taked any shape that laser is directed to as required, such as tubulose, T shape, basically sphere or rectangle.Rod 39 can comprise power supply (for example, battery) or power supply can be powered a long way off and by cable.As shown in Figure 5, lasing

light emitter

11,12 can be installed in single excellent 39 the shell.Alternatively, can provide and comprise a plurality of excellent 39 of one or more lasing light emitters.If probe is as optical arrangement 31, probe can fully be contained in each shell or be attached to individually the end of each rod 39.

Preferably, laser aid operates with separate configurations.For example, laser aid can by such as wall or be held on the floor or table top on the such supporting structure of portable stand supported.This independently the layout allows not come scan patients with laser beam in the situation with hand-holding rod 39.Referring to Fig. 6, two

shells

49,50 utilize respectively adapter 44,45 and be attached to arm 48.Will be appreciated that laser aid can have single shell or more than two shells, depend on the quantity of the required Laser Power Supply that will use.Be similar to rod 39, each

shell

49,50 can comprise one or more

Laser Power Supplies

11,12, one or more

optical arrangement

31,32, and power supply.Adapter 44,45 can be rigidity, perhaps be preferably flexible, thereby so that

shell

49,50 can move to any desired location.Arm 48 can be the hinged position with to laser and additionally controls.Arm 48 is attached to has wheel 47 substrate 46, thereby so that this device be movable to any desired location and then when treating, keep basically motionless.This on lying in platform or be sitting in for the patient in the wheelchair convenient especially.Panel 57 and

shell

49,50 one-tenth electrical connections, and can be installed on another location on the arm 48, perhaps can operate as remote controller with radio frequency or other method as known in the art.

Referring to Fig. 7, three casing assemblies 56 are attached to a kind of wall mounted arm 51, and arm 51 is bonded on the wall 52 with manner known in the art, thereby so that its can move to any desired location and then when treating, keep basically motionless.Arm can be hinged additionally to be controlled the position of laser being used for.Panel 57 and shell 53,54,55 one-tenth electrical connections, and can be installed on the wall.But panel 57 can be installed on other position or can use radio frequency or other method as known in the art operates as remote controller.Assembly 56 is attached to arm 51 in a manner known in the art, thereby so that it can move to any desired location.Equally, shell 53,54,55 is attached to this assembly 56, thereby so that each can move to desired location.

Fig. 8 a to Figure 10 shows preferred laser aid 100, and it is compact, portable and supports oneself.Laser aid 100 is motionless during treating, and provides to apply and compare with known self-support LLLT device than the more uniform laser energy of hand-held device to occupy less space.Two

shells

49,50 are installed in the housing 90, and the patient is placed in the housing 90 one or two feet or hands to treat.Will be appreciated that, be used for Emission Lasers although preferred laser aid 100 comprises two

shells

49,50, according to required treatment parameter, can assemble the device of similar functions with one, three or more shells.Preferred laser aid 100 has preferably occupied the space less than two cubic feet.More preferably, housing 90 has and is of a size of about 15.5 inches height, 10 inches width, and 10.5 inches the degree of depth, and this degree of depth is measured to the rear portion from housing 90 front portions.The compact size of housing 90 allows it to be positioned on the floor or work top in the therapeutic room, and less available free space is arranged there.In addition, dingus 100 can be easy to transport between the room.Housing 90 comprises back casing 91 and procapsid 92, and back casing 91 and procapsid 92 are attached to each other with housing substrate 93 to limit the inner space.Back casing 91, procapsid 92 and housing substrate 93 can be by molded polymers, or by making such as aluminum or the such metal of steel.Preferably, back casing 91 and procapsid 92 are the medical grade polymer, thereby and housing substrate 93 is that aluminum is so that the bottom of laser aid 100 is heavier and resist/tolerate the bump to it.Back casing 91, procapsid 92 and housing substrate 93 can utilize binding agent or non-adhesive means and for good and all or removedly be attached to each other.Preferably, come attached back casing 91, procapsid 92 and housing substrate 93 with metal or plastic screw.Handle 86 can be attached to housing 90, preferably at the place, top of back casing 91, to be easy to carry about with one.Preferably, a plurality of height adjustable semirigid feet 95 are attached to the bottom of housing substrate 93.Foot 95 protects housing substrates 93 to avoid swiping and other damages, and allows laser aid 100 balance on the surface on also incomplete plane.

The door 73 be covered be placed through in the housing 90 near port 71.Can be at front portion, rear portion or the sidepiece of housing 90 near port 71, but preferably be placed through in the procapsid 92, thereby so that patient's foot or hands can pass near port 71 in housing 90 and be held in the housing substrate 93 (as shown in the figure) to treat.Preferably, be not more than the most of necessary size of admitting one of patient's foot near port 71, and be most preferably about 6.5 inches wide about 5 inches high and, about 8 inches dark, closely meet the size of patient's hands or foot.In this way, housing 90 provides basic shielding part, prevents from polluting light in this process, that is, laser energy can almost be applied to affected area in the dark.When laser aid 100 did not use, door 73 was closed, and opened door 73 to allow the patient that one or two feet or hands are placed in this device 100.Preferably, in door 73 recesses 94 that are assembled in the housing substrate 93, thereby so that when 73 close the outer surface of door basically flush with the outer surface of procapsid 92.Then preferred door 73 utilizes at the hinge 72 at place, door 73 bottoms and is attached to housing substrate 93.Preferred door 73 also has one or more knobs 96, knob 96 plays two kinds of effects: provide the surface for grasping to be used for opening this door 73, thereby and be placed with the surface of laser aid 100 above contacting so that 73 keep and be arranged essentially parallel to housing substrate 93 when opening.Referring to Figure 10.Then door 73 can serve as the extension of the top surface of housing substrate 93, the thereon foot of patient or hands.

Shell

49,50 is the part of scan components 70, and it preferably is completely enclosed within the housing 90 basically.In scan components 70, programmable logic circuit (" PLC ") 76 electrically receives the one or more input parameters relevant with the treatment that will carry out.Input parameter can be before treatment, during or received afterwards, and can be used as default treatment and be stored among the PLC 76.The required treatment parameter of PLC 76 usefulness is controlled

shell

49,50 operation.The shell 49 that can be controlled, 50 operation comprise: from the total duration of each

shell

49,50 Laser emission; Pulse width, the variation of pulse width, and persistent period of applying of each pulse width; If have the rotary speed of carriage 18 and direction; And, zone to be scanned.Voltage regulator 78 (if need) is being managed the electric power conversion of arrive direct current, and adjusting is applied to PLC 76, touch screen 80 and

shell

49,50 voltage.Usually, this voltage management comprises voltage is reduced to for the 24V of PLC 76 and touch screen 80 and is used for controlling Laser Power Supply 11,12 and be used for the 5-8V of rotation or vibration optical arrangement 31, any CD-ROM drive motor of 32 from city electric standard 120V or 240.Voltage regulator 78 can be the member that is attached to PCB77, and is as mentioned below, perhaps can be incorporated in the PLC 76.

Shell

49,50 is connected to laser instrument angle bridge 74, and laser instrument angle bridge 74 arranges each

shell

49,50 with respect to vertical angle.Preferably,

laser beam

41,42 is focused at shell 49, about 5 inches some place, 50 belows thereby

shell

49,50 is spent with offset of vertical about 15 separately.One or more nonconductive plates 75 have been isolated such high voltage member and patient such as PLC 76.Plate 75 is preferably plastics and is most preferably DELRIN.Usually the installing plate 79 of being made by reflexive aluminum with electronic component and the shell 49 of PLC 76 and interface hereinafter described, opened in 50 minutes, protection PLC 76 and electronic component are avoided the laser launched.

Interface can be installed in the housing 90, with scan components 70 electronic communications, this interface is configured to show the treatment option and receive input from the operator in order to the operator to device 100.In interface, the electronic component that is installed on the printed circuit board (PCB) (" PCB ") 77 electrically receives input parameter.Electronic component can comprise transistor, resistor, capacitor, conductive trace and other required member, and these members need to be used for forming a kind of circuit that is configured to input and input is transferred in order to reception PLC 76.Input equipment is electrically connected to the member of PLC 76 or PCB 77, and receives input from the operator.Preferably, input equipment is attached to PLC 76 by USB (universal serial bus) (" USB ") connection.Input equipment can be keyboard, mouse, touch screen, mike or other input equipment.Preferably, input equipment is a kind of touch screen 80 of integration, and touch screen 80 is to operator's Show Options and reception operator's selection.Preferably, touch screen 80 utilizes the interface cradle above door 73 83 that is installed in the procapsid 92 attached.Alternatively, but touch screen 80 or other combination or separately input and output device shrinking away from theshell body is far away.Touch screen 80 can receive input, its preferably included the treatment before, afterwards or during the treatment parameter.The key that laser aid 100 can will insert before can using this device.This permission monitors use by key-audit program, and also provides emergency shutdown to the device of some alternating currents power supply, as desired in the U.S..Key is inserted near the key switch 84 of installing in key switch base 85 touch screen 80.Power module 81 is connected to wall plug receptacle with this device, or alternatively can be to the battery of this device 100 power supplies.Power module 81 is electrically connected to voltage regulator 78.

In any device in disclosed laser aid, but particularly in preferred laser aid 100, but input parameter comes in required mode any is programmed and realizes any desired path with the affected area the patient in this rod 39 or the

shell

49,50,53,54,55.And this device can be programmed to some zone than more guided laser output in other zone, thereby so that a zone can have than more treating in other zone.A plurality of

optical arrangement

31,32 scanning area can be overlapping, and no matter they send from same enclosure or from separate housing.This can be specially adapted to use autonomous device of the present invention, such as at shown in Fig. 6 to Figure 10 those.The present invention is not limited to any specific operator scheme by programming, but has following operator scheme to use as example:

1. shell is programmed to be used on a series of fixed area the scanning beam hot spot and stops preset period of time in each zone.Ad-hoc location on the patient who needs irradiation can be inputted to aim at by the user in this zone.

2. during treating, rotate described carriage 18 to scan the zone for the treatment of region.Rotary speed can be slow or very fast, and speed can change during treating.

3. the focal position of the beam shaping element in

optical arrangement

31,32 changes to generate smaller or greater spot size the patient.

4. laser power variation.

Preferably, be included in the preferred laser aid 100, laser aid adopts two laser diodes, thereby each laser diode has the light spot shape that a kind of optical arrangement has realized two substantial linear.Referring to Figure 11.In addition, preferred laser aid 100 has the first Laser Power Supply 11 and the second Laser Power Supply 12, the first Laser Power Supplies 11 have been launched the laser beam with 635nm wavelength, and the second Laser Power Supply 12 has been launched the laser beam with 405nm wavelength.In alternative, this device can utilize to obtain required emission and light spot shape necessary many like that Laser Power Supply, wavelength and optical arrangement.For example, can use more than two laser instrument and optical arrangement and aim at, thereby so that two or more in the laser beam have basically similar light spot shape and overlap in the position that they strike patient skin.

Thereby disclosed laser aid can alleviate or gets rid of fungus in affected area by some process in the fungal cell of stimulating by suitably applying.Fungal cell's mitochondrial membrane comprises cytochrome c oxidase, a kind of light receptor molecule that is identified.From the laser of LLLT therewith molecule react, cause the release for the poisonous reactive superoxides of height of fungal cell.In addition, laser therapy has been illustrated to have strengthened superoxide dismutase (" SOD "), and it is a kind of responsible destruction pathogen, antibacterial and relevant external organic enzyme.Low-level amboceptor/the mediator (mediator) that is associated with SOD can increase the expression of chemotactic factor, cytokine and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule in extracellular release, amplified the cascade reaction (cascade) that in the fungal cell, causes the photodestruction response.

Infected hands or foot that the patient is bare are carried out Therapeutic Method.This description has used foot and toenail to describe the method, but will be appreciated that, identical treatment can be used for infected hands and fingernail.Individually every foot is treated.Foot lies on floor or the platform, and exposes all infected fingernails.Laser aid is located in the affected area top.For the treatment of using rod 39, rod 39 can be positioned such that it touches the surface of infected fingernail, and perhaps it can be maintained at infected fingernail apart up to about 6 inches distance.For self-contained unit, those shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 8 a,

shell

49,50 preferably are positioned affected area top about 4-6 inch, most preferably about 5 inchs above affected area.In another self-contained unit, shell can be positioned with infected surface at a distance of about 10 inches or farther place.Start this device and then laser is mobile lentamente above affected area, guarantee that each receives suitable photon irradiation.Laser preferably applied between about 10 minutes and about 30 minutes.If two feet have all infected, repeat this treatment for the another foot.

Applied the laser energy of therapeutic dose to stop fungal cell's regeneration.Suitably therapeutic dose can be depending on one or more factors in some factors, comprising: infection is at nail matrix, deck, onychostroma or in the other parts of fingernail; The degree of depth and the area that infect; The density of fungal cell in affected area; Fungal cell's type; The thickness of fingernail; Use in the time of sensitization topical remedy; And other factors.Therefore, preferably, the degree that assessment is infected before the beginning laser energy applies, thus can determine to treat parameter.But alternatively, the patient can receive the laser energy of doses, and known this dosage generally is effective to most of situation of fungal infection, and the time that can allow nail matrix to grow about 1 to 12 months determines whether predose is effective.If new nail matrix growth shows to infect continue, then can repeat general effective dosage, and adjust parameter or do not adjust parameter.Every square centimeter of about 0.5 joule or more laser energy apply and can be effectively, but preferably apply laser energy between every square centimeter 0.5 joule and 15 joules to every foot during treating.General effective dose has about following parameter: applied laser energy 12 minutes, and provided by 405nm bundle and 635nm bundle, scan above this zone, thereby so that applied the gross energy of about every square centimeter of 10-15 joule.Usually, it is enough that single applies, but more than once applying the speed that can improve infected fingernail healing/healing.Preferably, after applying for the first time, about five weeks repeat once described applying.The patient can apply sensitization topical remedy, and it is activated and helped Antifungi cell regeneration by laser energy.The patient can apply Desenex's thing to affected area and continue for 12 weeks to prevent reinfect.Successful treatment will stop fungal cell regeneration, thereby so that newborn fingernail without infection.The method causes improved Growth rate of fingernail, fingernail quality and transparency and reduce deformity.

Although illustrated and described the content of thinking at present the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that in the situation that does not depart from true scope of the present invention, can make a variety of changes and revise and available equivalents substitutes its element.Therefore, anticipate that the present invention is not limited to disclosed specific embodiment, but the present invention will comprise all embodiment in the scope that belongs to claims.

Claims

1. laser aid that is used for applying to the affected area of patient's hands or foot the Low level laser energy, described laser aid comprises:

A. housing has:

I. less than two cubic feet inner space; And

Ii. near port, it is placed through in the part of described housing, thereby so that described patient at least one hands or at least one can be worn and describedly be inserted in the described inner space near port, and,

B. scan components, it is attached on the described housing and basically places in the described inner space, and described scan components comprises:

I.. the first shell; And

Ii. the first Laser Power Supply, it places in described the first shell and is configured in order to go out laser beam from described the first shell emission;

Described scan components is located so that, when described patient's hands or foot during in described inner space, described laser beam forms the first shell bundle hot spot that basically strikes against on the described affected area.

2. laser aid according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described have at least 6 inches wide and at least 8 inches dark sizes near port.

3. laser aid according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described scan components also comprises the one or more optical arrangement that place in described the first shell, and described optical arrangement comprises separately:

A. one or more optical elements, described laser beam carries to handle described laser beam by described one or more optical elements, thus so that described the first shell bundle hot spot is non-circular.

4. laser aid according to claim 3 is characterized in that, each in the described optical arrangement also comprises:

A. rotatable carriage, it keeps described optical element; And

B. be used for rotating described rotatable carriage so that the device that described the first shell bundle hot spot also rotates.

5. laser aid according to claim 4 is characterized in that, it is linear that described the first shell bundle hot spot is essentially.

6. laser aid according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described scan components also comprises

A. second housing;

B. the second Laser Power Supply, it places in the described second housing and is configured in order to launch laser beam from described second housing to form the second housing laser beam, when patient's hands or foot placed in the described laser aid, described second housing bundle hot spot clashed into described affected area basically.

7. laser aid according to claim 6 is characterized in that, described scan components also comprises

A. the first optical arrangement, it places in described the first shell, and described the first optical arrangement comprises:

I. at least one first optical element carries to handle described laser beam by the laser beam that described the first Laser Power Supply generates by described the first optical element, thereby so that described the first shell bundle hot spot is non-circular;

Ii. the first rotatable carriage, it maintains one or more in described the first optical element; And

Iii. be used for rotation the first rotatable carriage so that the device that described the first shell bundle hot spot also rotates; And

B. the second optical arrangement, it places in the described second housing, and described the second optical arrangement comprises:

I. at least one second optical element carries to handle described laser beam by the laser beam that described the second Laser Power Supply generates by described the second optical element, thereby so that described the first shell bundle hot spot is non-circular;

Ii. the second rotatable carriage, it maintains one or more in described the second optical element; And

Iii. be used for rotating the described second rotatable carriage so that the device that described second housing bundle hot spot also rotates.

8. laser aid according to claim 7 is characterized in that, at least one in described the first shell bundle hot spot and the described second housing bundle hot spot is linear.

9. laser aid according to claim 7, it is characterized in that, the described first rotatable carriage and the second rotatable carriage are configured to rotation, thereby so that described the first shell bundle hot spot strikes against identical zone with the different time of second housing bundle hot spot during treating.

10. laser aid according to claim 7, it is characterized in that, described scan components also comprises laser instrument angle bridge, described laser instrument angle bridge is attached on described the first shell and the second housing, and be configured in order to: thereby the angle that changes described the first shell and second housing by foot and hands with respect to described patient is so that described the first shell bundle hot spot and the translation on whole described affected area of second housing bundle hot spot.

11. laser aid according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, described scan components also comprises laser instrument angle bridge, described laser instrument angle bridge is attached on described the first shell, and be configured in order to: thereby the angle that changes described the first shell by foot or hands with respect to described patient is so that described first shell bundle hot spot translation on whole described affected area.

12. Laser Devices according to claim 1 characterized by further comprising: interface, it is electrically connected to described scan components, and described interface configuration becomes in order to receive the treatment parameter from the operator and described treatment parameter is transferred to described scan components.

13. laser aid according to claim 12 is characterized in that, described interface also is configured in order to show the treatment option to described operator.

14. laser aid according to claim 13 is characterized in that, described interface comprises touch screen.

15. laser aid according to claim 14 is characterized in that, described touch screen is installed on the described housing.

16. Laser Devices according to claim 1 characterized by further comprising: door, it is attached on the described housing and is configured to close described near port.

17. laser aid according to claim 16 is characterized in that, described door is configured to open and a surface is provided, and during applying laser energy, described patient can place the part of at least one hands or at least one foot on the described surface.

18. a laser aid that is used for applying to the affected area of patient's hands or foot the Low level laser energy, described laser aid comprises:

A. plastic casing basically comprises:

I. procapsid;

Ii. back casing, it is attached to described procapsid removedly;

The substrate of iii housing, it is attached on described procapsid and the back casing to limit the inner space removedly, and described housing substrate comprises the edge and is formed into described intramarginal recess; And,

Iv. near port, described patient can pass described interface port thereby it is placed through in the described procapsid is inserted at least one hands or at least one foot in the described inner space;

B. scan components, it is attached on the described housing and places the inner space of described housing, and described scan components comprises:

I the first shell and second housing, each shell comprises:

1. one or more Laser Power Supplies, each has less than the power stage of 1 mW and is configured in order to the laser of emission wavelength between 400 nm and 800 nm; And

2. one or more optical arrangement, each comprises:

A. hollow mandrel, it is basically coaxial with the laser beam that is generated by one of described Laser Power Supply, and carries described laser beam by described hollow mandrel;

B. optical element carries described laser beam to produce non-circular the first bundle hot spot by described optical element, and the central point of described the first bundle hot spot is along the described axis of described hollow mandrel; And

C. rotatable carriage is carried described laser beam by described rotatable carriage, and described rotatable carriage maintains described optical element;

Ii. voltage regulator, its electricity is attached to each in the described Laser Power Supply, and described voltage regulator is configured to begin, stop and regulates the electric power that is fed to described Laser Power Supply;

Iii. laser instrument angle bridge, it is attached in described the first shell and the second housing each, and described laser instrument angle bridge is configured to change independently described the first shell and second housing with respect to the angle of described housing substrate;

Iv. programmable logic circuit, its electricity is attached to described voltage regulator and described laser instrument angle bridge, and described programmable logic circuit configuration becomes the operation of controlling described voltage regulator and described the first shell and second housing in order to treatment parameter according to the rules; And

V. installing plate, it places between described shell and the described programmable logic circuit;

Described scan components is located so that: when described patient's hands or foot in described inner space and described Laser Power Supply when starting, the first bundle hot spot of described the first shell and second housing strikes against on the described affected area basically;

C. interface, it is electrically connected to described scan components, and described interface comprises:

I. touch screen, it is installed on the described procapsid, and is configured in order to show the treatment option and to receive the treatment parameter from the operator; And

Ii. printed circuit board (PCB), it is installed on the described installing plate, on the sidepiece opposite with second housing with described the first shell, described printed circuit board (PCB) comprises the electric components that becomes telecommunication with described touch screen, described electric components forms circuit, and described Circnit Layout becomes in order to receive described treatment parameter from described touch screen and described treatment parameter is delivered to described programmable logic controller; And

D. the door, it has hinge, and described door utilizes hinge to be attached in the recess of described housing substrate, thereby so that described door covers described near port when closing, and a surface is provided when opening, and described patient can place at least one hands or at least one foot on the described surface.

19. Laser Devices according to claim 18 characterized by further comprising:

A. many feet, it is attached to the bottom of described housing substrate; And,

B. one or more knobs thereby it is attached to described door, when described door is opened fully, are equipped with the described surface of described laser aid above described knob is contacting, and keep the described door of opening and are arranged essentially parallel to described housing substrate.

20. Laser Devices according to claim 19 characterized by further comprising: be attached to the handle on the described back casing.